Another demoralising defeat

Pompey slumped to another sickening home defeat, this time 2 long range efforts cancelled out McLeod's solitary effort, what will rankle with the fans though is the way Pompey went down, creating little and not seeming urgent enough for an equaliser.

This season is starting to take on big parralels with the last three, a team thrown together is struggling to get points on the board as the try and gel, trouble is, we all know how 2 of those 3 season panned out!

Yesterday had a bizarre feel to it, the game was played under what I felt was a flat atmosphere, I think the off field shaningans have well and truly knocked the the stuffing out of all fans now, until our ownership issues are sorted, I honestly think even the most optimistic fan is going to travel to a game full of beans and excited at the prospect of urging on his side.

All the talk on the message boards was how we were going to win this one, even the Walsall fans seemed to be hoping for no more than a draw, but if Pompey start slowly and uninspiringly, the fans soon see the dark clouds gathering once more.

Ashley Harris got the start everyone was crying out for, Dumbuya also returned after his long, fruitless trip to Sierra Leone.

The first half was as flat as last nights beer, plenty of Pompey possesion with no real openings created, in fact the highlight was a great reaction save from Andersen to keep us level.

The second half saw McLeod force at least a save from Grof in the Walsall goal, the loose ball being hacked clear off the line.

Walsall soon took the lead though, Hemmings made the most of some lazy defending from Dumbuya to tee up Baxendale who gave Andersen no chance from distance.

Ex-trainee Cuvelier who was head and shoulders above any other player on the pitch doubled the lead, from a similar distance he finished smartly with composure through a packed penalty area.

Pompey were at last sparked into some sort of life, McLeod responding with a good finish of his own, a ball broke to him from 20 yards and he placed nicely in a corner.

Pompey huffed and they puffed, but could find no further way through, a couple of weak headers was the best they could muster, although Jack Compton deserves note for at least providing some genuine width for the first time, if there was to be another goal, it was Walsall who almost grabbed it, Pompey gave up possesion with another loose pass and Paterson smashed the crossbar, again from around the 25 yard mark, maybe a pointer to where we are going wrong?

Star Player

McLeod probably had his best game so far, it was probably no more than a 7/10 performance, but that shows how low the performance was on a whole, Izale looks like he maybe this seasons scapegoat, but if averages 3 goals every 5 games like he is, I'll take that.

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Even defeat doesn't hurt like it used to! That is how low my footballing spirits are right now, I've really had enough of our hazy existence, and if Chanrai takes the reigns I'll jack it in, I'll be first in line offering my season ticket back!

We continue to play it across the back line despite the defenders having little skill and no confidence on the ball. Darren whatís his name was put into the centre of defence to attempt to move it forward faster and more skilfully but didn't and defended poorly. The midfield canít even move about to find space to receive a pass, and if they could the defence wouldn't reach them with one. There is no creativity in the middle and little basic football technique. The strikers don't move enough and aren't really good enough even for Division 3. So: poor ball skills, poor passing, poor movement, poor vision. The players look like they've never seen each other before. I would rather we played long ball football than this pants. Your halo is slipping, Mr Appleton. The scary thing is, signing this bunch for a whole season if we get new owners. The only consolation is The Scum losing again.

If Long goes It'd be nice to get this guy:
Several Championship and League One sides are thought to have made enquiries about taking the United States international on a temporary basis.
Findley, who joined Forest from Real Salt Lake in January 2011, saw his first season at the club interrupted by injury and he scored six goals last term.

Hold on guys, what exactly did we expect? We have an inexperienced. largely untried manager who has no mentor or father figure at the club to seek help and advice from. We have a bunch of players on one month contracts who are probably living out of suitcases in B&B accommodation or similar, without their families. It is entirely possible that they don't even spend the whole week down here and spend at least a couple of days at home. We have ongoing turmoil off the pitch that would test the patience of a saint (not a scummer). When we seem to sign a genuine player, he picks up an injury that will last exactly ther period of his contract. What we don't need is negativity during the match and enthusiastic chants about the scum losing at Arsenal when we are in trouble ourselves. Several of our own players seem to freeze at the expectations at Fratton Park. Isn't it about time we expended our energy supporting the lads and intimidating the opposition instead?